Thread-moistening apparatus



B. SCHMIDT ET AL THREAD IOISTENING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1928 Jn vgn Ear s.- 0m, flu-halt Berna scb Patented .Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BENITO SCHMHJT, OF SIEGMAR, AND. OTTO HUNDT, OF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY THBEAD-MOISTENING APPARATUS Application filed February 3, 1928, Serial No. 251,666, and in Switzerland December 16, 1927.

This invention relates to athread moistening apparatus designed particularly for the uniform moistening of threads before and during preparation of said threads for use in weaving, knitting, and similar machinesa Devices of this type as heretofore provided have generally proven objectionable, primarily because the thread is not uniformly moistened, and furthermore because the the thread is subjected to the action of the moistening apparatus while the thread is at a standstill, thereby further tending to a non-uniform moistening of the thread.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a thread moistener in'which the thread is adapted for such cooperation with the moistening apparatus that it may be uniformly moistened to the full extent of its absorptive property or may be limited in such than the maximum. I A further object of the invention is th provision of means by which the thread, when a standstill and not under tension, is automatically raised free of the moistening apparatus to thereby prevent .undue saturation of the thread incident to its remaining in contact with the moistening apparatus while such thread is not moving.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the moistening apparatus, the thread being shown under tension and in operative relation to such apparatus. A

Figure 2 is a similar view, the threadbeing shown free of tension and arranged in inoperative relation to the moistening apparatus.

Figure 3 is a broken vertical sectional view through the moistener proper, illustrating particularly the construction whereby'a constant su ply of moistening fluid is maintained a the moistening area of such apparatus.

The moistening apparatus of this invention comprises a container a forming a closed chamber, the lower portion of the container being extended in one direction to provide a hollow portion m in open communication with the container proper, the upper surface moistening to any proportion desired less- 92 of the hollow extension providing a ledge over which the thread 0 is adapted to move in the moistening operation.

The bottom of the ledge 0 is provided with a filling opening 0 closed by a cap p and the ledge n is formed with openings 6 and 6,, through which the moistening fluid is delivered to the thread. As the receptacle a is completely closed except for the openings 6, and 6 it is apparent tha as the liquid is used or absorbed by the threa the air space indicated at a on the upper surface of the liquid is supplied with air to balance thcpressure through the openings 6 and 6 such air rising in globules d along the front wall of the receptacle, as indicated in Figure 3.

If desired, wicking indicated at 7:: of any appropriate form, such as sponge, felt, or other material, may be arranged in the hollow extension n and extended through the respective openings 6 andb in order to direct the moistening liquid into contact with the thread.

In order that the thread may be held in moistening relation to the openings 6, and I), only when such thread is moving under tension, there is provided a frame 8 includingside bars pivotally supported at e on the frame bar t supporting the receptacle, the side bars being connected by a cross bar it in advance of the forward wall of the receptacle. The forward terminals of the bars 8 are formed with eyes 6, and 6 through which the thread 0 passes, the length of the respective bars 8 being suchthat when lowered, the thread passing through the eyes e, and 9, will be drawn in contact with'the wicking Ic'or with the moistening fluid in the openings 6, and b, in the absence of such wicking. The frame including the side bars 8 and the cross bar u is urged in an upwardly direction by a spring 7, and the thread 0 beyond the eye 6, extends through the opening or guide i in the frame bar underlying the moistener.

' Thus, under tension, it is apparent that the thread will cause the frame to swing downwardly on the pivot e, permitting the thread,

as it is drawn across the openings 6, and 6,,

to be moistened to the full extent of the absorptive quality of the thread. In the absence of tension on the thread, however, the spring f acts to raise the frame and thereby move the thread to a position above the moistening outlets b and 6 An adjustable gauge member g is carried by the cross bar u, which member 9 may be adjusted to contact with the wall of the moistener a so as to limit the downward movement of the frame under the tension of the thread. This, to some extent, will limit the contact of the thread with the moistening liquid and thereby obviously regulate the moistening of the thread to any degree up to and including its maximum absorption;

What is claimed to be new is:

1. In a thread moistening apparatus, a moistening fluid container having a hollow I communicating extension formed with moistening outlets, a thread guldlng frame pivotally supported on thecontainer, means for normally holding the frame in a position above the moistening outlets. said means yielding under tension of the thread passing through the frame to move the frame and thereby the thread into operative relation with the moistening outlets, and an adjustable stop on the thread carrying frame cooperating with the container to limit the movement of the frame with reference to the moistening outlets.

2. In a thread moistening apparatus, a moistening fluid container formed with a re duced forward extension having thread moistening outlets, a frame pivoted on opposite sides of the container and including a connecting bar extending across the container and a pair of forwardly extending arms projecting beyond the cross bar and formed with openings for the passage of thread to be moistened .at the thread moistening outlets. an adjustable stop carried by the cross bar and cooperating with the extension to limit the movement of the frame in the direction of the moistening outlets, and a spring between the container and frame operating to move the frame and thereby the thread to v a position beyond the thread moistening outlets in the absence of tension on the vthread. a In testimony whereof wev aflix our signatures.

BENNO SCHMIDT. [L. s.] OTTO HUNDT. [1,. s.] 

